Double acting door closer



F. H. PITTENGER DOUBLE ACTING DOOR CLOSER Filed May 15, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2o 2 4 O 7 75 77 ii 5| 2o 5% A2 1% r 73 57 6 22 ,3? ss O 1 a $9 $6 45 63 o f QR??? 49 2 73 6| 22 Q5 54 98 O 42 43 3| 52 24 O 0 69 L mm FIG. 1

INVENTOR FRANCIS H. PITTENGER BY 1 M122 ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1962 F. H. PITTENGER DOUBLE ACTING DOOR CLOSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1959 MOE BYX

ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1962 F. H. PITTENGER 3,021,556

DOUBLE ACTING DOOR CLOSER Filed May 15. 1959 4 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTOR FRANCIS H. PITTENGER ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1962 F. H. PlTTENGER DOUBLE ACTING DOOR CLOSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 15. 1959 FIG. 6

INVENTOR 5 FRANCIS H, PITTENGER IIBY 4 Zita ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,921,556 DQUBLE ACTING DOOR CLQSER Francis H. Pittenger, Shelby, Ohio, assignor to The Shelby Spring Hinge Company, Shcihy, Ghio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 15, 1959, Ser. No. 813,5166 2 Claims. (Cl. 16-185) This invention relates to a door closer and more particularly to a novel closer mechanism of the double acting type.

In general, the apparatus of the present invention consists of a casing means adapted to be mounted in the foundation beneath the pivot center of a door. A spindle is pivotally mounted in the casing means and includes an upper end for attachment to the door. The mechanism within the casing further includes two torsion springs which, bynreans of the novel linkage of the present invention, are both wound simultaneously, to store energy for closing the door, when the door is pivoted open in either direction.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a double acting door closer that includes a novel linkage mechanism for transmitting the combined torsion exerted by a plurality of-torsion springs such that said combined torsion can be utilized in closing a door in both directions of rotation thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel closer mechanism of the type described which includes a spindle on which are mounted a plurality of cams engaged by a spring pressed follower mechanism, said cams being secured to said spindle by a novel mounting means whereby the closure force exerted on either of said cams is transmitted to and partially resisted by the mounting means for the other of said cams.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a double acting closer mechanism constructed according to the present invention, the closer being shown with a portion of the top wall removed to reveal the interior mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the closer of FIG. 1, a portion of the side wall of the casing being removed to reveal the interior mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a partial side sectional view of the mechanism of the preceding figures, the section being taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a cam and spindle assembly comprising a portion of the mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a spring tension adjusting apparatus comprising a portion of the mechanism of the present invention, the section being taken along the line 55 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of the spring tension adjusting apparatus of FIG. 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the closer mechanism of the present invention includes a casing means indicated generally at 20, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The casing means rotatably supports a spindle 22 at a lower bearing 23 and upper bearing 24. The upper end of spindle 22 includes a shank 26 for fixed attachment to a door.

Two torsion springs 39 and 31 are mounted within the casing 20 and include lower ends 33 and 34 anchored to rotatable plates 14% and 141 respectively. The lower end of pivot pin 45 is secured to the center of plate 149 whereby rotation of the upper end of pivot pin 45 rotates plate 140 and applies preloaded tension to spring 30. Similarly, the lower end of pivot pin 46 is secured to plate 141 whereby rotation of pivot pin 46 rotates plate 141 and applies preloaded tension to spring 31.

The upper end of pivot pin is locked in various positions of rotation by rotating a tension adjusting plate 143 relative to a top cover plate 144. The upper end of pivot pin 46 includes a slot 145 that receives a pin 147 carried by holes in a downwardly extending boss 148 on adjusting plate 143.

As best seen in FIG. 6, the periphery of adjusting plate 143 includes a plurality of arcuate recesses 151 that receive the heads of screws 152. I

The upper end of pivot pin 46 includes a slot 153 that receives a pin 154 extended through holes 155 in a boss 156 formed on the bottom of a second spring adjusting plate 157.

The periphery of adjusting plate 157 include a plurality of arcuate recesses 166 that receive the heads of screws 161.

The top surfaces of adjusting plates 143 and 157 are provided with recesses 163 for receiving a spanner wrench.

To apply preloaded tension to spring 34) screws 152 are removed and adjusting plate 143, pivot pin 45, and plate 14% are rotated to rotate the lower end of spring 30, it being understood that the upper end of torsion spring 30 is anchored to an actuating arm in a manner later to be described.

The upper ends 37 and 38 of the torsion springs are respectively engaged by shoulders 40 and 41 on plates 42 and 43 pivotally mounted to casing 26 by pivot pins and 46.

Spindle 22 carries a first earn 43 and a second cam 49 that include cam surfaces 51 and 52 respectively engaged by rollers 53 and 54.

Rollers 53 and 54 are mounted on an axially shiftable member indicated generally at 56 by means of upper and lower plates 57 and 58 through which are extended roller mounting pins 60 and 61.

Member 56 and plates 57 and 58 include a longitudinally extending guide slot 63 through which is extended a guide pin 64 carried by the upper casing wall 68 and cylinder block 69.

A bearing sleeve 70 surrounds guide pin 64 and is disposed in sliding contact with guide slot 63. 7

Upper and lower plates 57 and 58 are firmly secured to member 56 by a plurality of fasteners such as rivets 73.

Axiallyshiftable member .56 includes a shank portion that is offset laterally from the axis of guide slot 63 and in pivotally attached engagement with pivot pins 76 and 77 mounted on the periphery of pivotally mounted plates 42 and 43.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, spindle 22 includes upper shoulders 80 and lower shoulders 81 that form radially extending slots 83 and 84 into'which are inserted the rear edges 86 and 87 of cam elements 48 and 49 whereby edges 86 and 87 engage the bottom walls 90 and 91 of the slots 83 and 84. Upper and lower shoulders 8t and 81 are integrally forged with spindle 22 and an intermediate diamond-shaped spindle portion 79, illustrated by dotted delineation of FIG. 4, is also integrally forged when the spindle is formed. The camelements 48 and 49 are provided with recesses that conform in shape and size with the diamond shaped spindle portion which they snugly engage.

Cam elements 48 and 49 include confronting side edges 94 and 95 which arrangement causes force exerted on cam surface 51 of cam 48 to be resisted partially by a mounting pin 97 for said cam element and also partially by a mounting pin 98 for the other cam element 49. Similarly, when force is being exerted on cam surface 52 said force is resisted by both mounting pin 97 and G 98 due to the contacting relationship between confronting cam side edges 94 and 95.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, cylinder 69 carries a piston provided with a check valve 102. This piston and cylinder mechanism functions as a dash pot to retard the rate of closure of the door, it being understood that piston 100 is connected to ofiset 103 on spindle 22 by a connecting rod 165. When piston 100 moves to the left, seen in FIG. 3, which occurs as the door closes, fluid is expelled from chamber 107 through orifice 108 and needle valve 189 being provided for controlling the rate of fluid flow through orifice 108.

A second cylinder and dash pot mechanism is provided for retarding the rate of closure of the door when the door has been opened in the other direction, said mechanism being indicated generally at 69-A in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In operation, when the closure mechanism is disposed in the normal configuration illustrated, and the door is opened to rotate spindle 22 in a counter-clockwise direction, cam surface 51 moves along roller 53 and shifts member 56 to the left. This action pivots plates 42 and 43 about their respective pivots 45 and 46 and Winds torsion springs 30 and 31 to store energy therein for subsequent closing of the door.

When cam surface 51 moves along roller 53 to a position wherein protrusion 120 is encountered by the roller, then a definite resistance is imposed on further opening of the door. If it is desired to move the door into a hold-open position, additional force is exerted on the door to cause protrusion 120 to move in a counter-clockwise direction beyond a point of contact with roller 53 whereby roller 53 drops into hold-open depression 122.

When the door is moved out of the hold-open depression 122 and past protrusion 120 stored energy in torsion springs 30 and 31 forces the door to its neutral closed position.

When a door is opened in the other direction, spindle 22 rotates in a clockwise direction, FIG. 1, which causes cam surface 52 to move along roller 54. Since cam surface 52 progressively departs from the axis of rotation of spindle 22, axially shiftable member 56 moves, FIG. 1, whereby energy is stored in torsion springs 30 and 31.

Protrusion 124 and hold-open depression 125 on cam element 49 function to provide hold-open and resistance of movement into hold-open in the same manner previously described for cam element 48.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it. is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A door closer comprising, in combinatiomcasing means including a longitudinal axis; a vertically extending spindle rotatably mounted in said casing means and adapted for attachment to a door whereby opening of said door applies torque to said spindle and the application of torque to said spindle closes said door; a first cam surface on said spindle; a second cam surface on said spindle; a

first radially extending arm pivotally mounted to said casing means and extending laterally in one direction from said longitudinal axis to a first pivot portion; a first torsion spring operative between said first arm and said casing means; a second radially extending arm pivotally mounted to said casing means and extending laterally in said one direction from said longitudinal axis to a second pivot portion longitudinally aligned with said first pivot portion; a second torsion spring operative between said second arm and said casing means; guide means mounted to said casing means between said spindle and said first and second arms; a shiftable member including a head portion longitudinally shiftably mounted on said guide means and a longitudinally extending shank portion rigidly connecting said head portion, said shank portion being laterally offset from and parallel with said longitudinal axis and including third and fourth pivot portions connected to said first and second pivot portions on said arms; and first and second followers on said head portion of said shiftable member and in engagement with said first and second cam surfaces.

2. A door closer comprising, in combination, casing means including a longitudinal axis; a vertically extending spindle rotatably mounted in said casing means and adapted for attachment to a door whereby opening of said door applies torque to said spindle and the application of torque to said spindle closes said door; a first cam surface on said spindle; a second cam surface on said spindle; a first radially extending arm pivotally mounted to said casing means and extending laterally in one direction from said longitudinal axis to a first pivot portion; a first torsion spring operative between said first arm and said casing means; a second radially extending arm pivotally mounted to said casing means and extending laterally in said one direction from said longitudinal axis to a second pivot portion longitudinally aligned with said first pivot portion; a second torsion spring operative between said second arm and said casing means; a vertically extending guide pin mounted to said casing means between said spindle and said first and second arms; a shiftable member including a head portion provided with a longitudinally extending slot through which said guide pin is extended and a longitudinally extending shank portion rigidly connecting said head portion, said shank portion being laterally oifset from and parallel with said longitudinal axis and including third and fourth pivot portions connected to said first and second pivot portions on said arms; and first and second followers on said head portion of said shiftable member and in engagement with said first and second cam surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ellis Dec. 30, 1958 

